[rpriske]

August 25th, 1987

The Firebirds are home in Phoenix. We are pitching Butch Henry (8-7, 2.70).

We are facing the Tucson Toros and they are going with Derek Livernois (4-3, 3.89).

I have faced him before and have gone 1 for 4.

I led off the home half of the game by striking out.

The Toros got on the board first when Randy Brian singled home Jim Pankovits in the 2nd.

Toros lead 1-0

In the 3rd Vern Followell scored on a Nelson Rood groundout.

Toros lead 2-0

I came up in the bottom half with none out and Alex Taveras on 1st. I knocked one through the eight side for a single, moving Alex to 3rd. Eddie Milner then grounded out, scoring Alex and sending me up a base. I then stole 3rd and scored on a Kelvin Torre grounder.

Game tied 2--2

In the 4th Deron McCue smashed a solo shot to put us up.

Firebirds lead 3-2

In the 5th I started a Priske - Taveras - Litton double play to get Mike Botkin and Followell out.

In the 5th I came up with none out and Alex on 1st. This time I walked. Eddie dropped one into the right field corner for a double. Alex scored and I went to 3rd. Then Kelvin doubled, scoring Eddie and I. Kelvin after scored on a Mark Berry single and Mark scored on a sac fly by Fran Mullins.

Firebirds lead 8-2

I got the 3rd out in the 6th off a Pankovits grounder.

I led off the bottom of the 6th, now facing Mike Dowless. I put one up the middle for a single. I advanced to 3rd on a single by Eddie. Kelvin then smacked a three run dinger! Later in the frame Craig Greback scored on a double by Deron. Then both Deron and Greg Litton scored on a single by Alex. I came up for the second time that inning, now facing Donald Dunster, and grounded out to end it.

Firebirds lead 14-2

In the 8th Mark Berry stole 2nd. If that happened in the bigs, the name one of our guys would be wearing a fastball.
Instead Mark scored on a single by Deron.

Firebirds lead 15-2

Butch ended up going the distance as we notched an easy win.

I went 2 for 4 with two singles, a walk, three runs scored, and a stolen base.

I am hitting .412 in AAA.

After the game it became official - I was heading to Philadelphia to rejoin the Giants.
Tom O'Malley was sent down.


I am coming back to a 4 game lead on the Reds.